Token Ring

Token Ring is a networking technology developed by IBM in the 1980s. This technology is specifically used in Local Area Networks (LAN). Token Ring was designed to streamline data transfer in networking and works on a ring structure.

Token Ring is a local area network where all devices are connected in a ring. This technology uses a special data packet called a "token." The token allows for the transfer of data on the network. When a device needs to send data, it must first obtain the token.

The process involves a token circulating the ring. A device wanting to send data captures the token, attaches its data packet, and sends it along the ring. The destination device reads the data and sends the token back onto the network for others to use.

Advantages: Organized traffic (collision-free), predictable timing, and regular performance.

Disadvantages: Complex setup, susceptibility to failure (if one part of the ring fails), and lower speed compared to other technologies.

Although Token Ring gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, this technology is less used today, replaced by Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and other advanced networking technologies.